SLOTTRONIC d-Race is the digital-racing-system for the ambitious hobby-racer and for professional use. Up to eight slotcars in scale of 1:24 or 1:32 can be driven with a power of 10 to 20 Volts and up to 15 Ampere. It is the single digital system that works with different digital-modes an which is appareled with anti-collision.
The SLOTTRONIC 300 start-bundle
With this bundle a 300 racing track will transform to a digital-wooden-racing-track for up to eight drivers. The bundle contains: The Base1, the controller unit of the system (1), a CD-Rom with the driver and our Race software (2), a two-pole cable for connecting Base1 with the power supply (3), a two-pole cable for connecting Base1 with the track (4), a coaxial cable for connect the time-measurement sensors in the track with Base1 (5), an USB cable for connecting Base1 with a PC (6), two 25-pole cable for connecting the connection-boxes with Base1 (7), two connection-boxes for connect each four drivers (8), an extern chaos button for a race director (9), ten car chips for in building in the slotcars (10), ten connection sets for easy in and off building of the car chips (11), a rack to hold the Base1 beside the track (12), an half module 301h (13) and a switch-module 301dz with four adjustable switches and time-measurement-sensors (power- and time-measurement-connectors on both sides). The price of the several components is higher than 3000 €. As a start bundle it costs 2990 € including all taxes.
In 13 points you will get an introduction in the system, its parts and possibilities.
1. The intelligent switch
Until now switches in slotracing a downright silly things! Normally they consist of a simple mechanism and a sensor, which receive the lane-change-command of the driver. In contrast SLOTTRONNIC SWITCH1 is brilliant. This starts with the fact that it is adjustable in two levels. At first it is adjustable with jumpers to define a place in the track (there is a difference if a car has to switch back to the ideal-line or for overtaking switching off of the ideal line). Secondary: With a push-button you are able to allot different operating modes. The switch works with six different operating modes. In other words: it is able to change its behavior. For doing this it is powered with lots of processing power. Each SWITCH1 is equipped with its own microprocessor that converts the sensor-signals to switching-commands according to the chosen operating-mode. Thereby SWITCH1 evaluates six sensors to capture the situation around exactly.
The SWITCH1 in different race-track-systems
We developed SWITCH1 for implementation in three race-track-systems. Most functions are built in the 300 system. Because of defining the middle lane for ideal it is possible to use in automatic a manual switching mode. In more than three lanes, e.g. at the 400 and 600 systems, it don’t make sense to use automatic switching mode. However it makes sense to use the automatic mode at a 200 ideal-line track.
Technical finesse
The SWITCH1 is made with a robust mechanic for enduring use. The switching-tongue is made of 4mm thick stainless steel and mounted with a double bearing. We use stainless steel because of its resistance and conductivity. On the active switch at the beginning and also at passive switch at the end of the lane-switching the car is provided with electric power. Irrespective if the car drives straightforward or if it even switch the lane. The polarity of the switch-tongue is controlled for each tongue automatically and separately. Even if cars are driving nearby the switch operate so fast that every car is able to pass the switch with full throttle.
2. The anti-collision system
One new on the SLOTTRONIC-System is the anti-collision system. It is preventing laterally collisions in the transition area. Every switch in a 300d module has its own anti-collision sensor. It is build in the lane, which ends with the lane change. In the drawing the sensor is marked red.
If there is no car on the sensor like in the first drawing, the switch is manipulated in no way. A lane changing is possible and can be started.
If there is a car on the sensor like in the second drawing the lane change is prohibited.
Cars which are driving in a switching-situation are not able to clash.
If the lane-changing is already started (the switching tongue is switched in direction of the lane change) and another car reach the anti-collision sensor the lane-changing will be interrupted. The switching-tongue will be switched back to straightforward. No rule without exception: If the blue car is already up to 5 cm nearby the switch, the switching-tongue will not be moved. This prohibits the collision of slider and the moving switch-tongue. If the green car drives as twice faster as the blue one a collision could happen. In normal racing-situation this constellation is really improbably.
3. Using modes “analog”, “manual” and “manual with anti-collision”.
Each switch can allot an own operation-mode. You choose the mode with a little push-button which is inbuilt in the track-surface. Per pressing the button the operation-mode is switching. It is displayed through lighting of the LEDs (even in mode 1 “analog” no LED will be lighted).
Mode 1 “analog”
In this mode all of the LEDs don’t light. There are no lane changing’s. In this mode you drive like on an analog track. The cars even have to have a car chip, because the signal for breaking and accelerating is transmitted digital. Secondary to the classical analog racing this mode can be used for take directed switches out. This could be plausible, if you are going to drive in automatic mode and one of the switches is bidding no good possibility for overtaking because of the track design.
Mode 2 “manual switching without anti-collision”
The driver decides by pushing the button at his controller if he wants to change lane at the next switch or not. Therefore a switching button has to be mounted at the controller or separately which is also connected to the Base1. This applies for all modes which are providing manual switching. In front of all switches is a short part of braid which isn’t connected to electric power, called “deadstrip” (red marked in the drawing). At this point the car number is transmitted to the switch. Furthermore the Base1 transmit the switch if the lane should be changed or not. Flow of lane-changing: 1. the driver push the lane-changing button before he reaches the deadstrip. 2. If the car left the deadstrip the switching-tongue is switched to lane-changing. Before switching the switch controls by a sensor if there is a car between switch and deadstrip which is not the car whose driver started the lane changing. If there is such a car the switch stops the changing till this car passed. So it isn’t possible to force the other driver to change the lane. 3. Directly after passing the switch is switching back to straightforward. So it is also not possible to force other drivers to change the lane.
Mode 3 “manual switching with anti-collision”
The driver decides on his own if his car should change the lane at the next switch or not. The anti-collision system protects crashes. The operation mode is the same like in mode 2, just with working anti-collision. The switch verifies if the neighbor lane is free or not and just in this case a lane-changing is allowed.
4. How the automatic overtaking works?
Automatically over taking is closely related to analog driving. The drivers are able to concentrate for the race and they don’t need to think at which switch the want to change the lane. The switch comes to this time-critical decision on its own. Automatically overtaking (switch-switching) is fair and calculable. All cars are directed to the racing line (the middle line is defined as racing line). There everybody has the same curve radius and track length.
There are two categorical switch-situations:
Switch-type 1: Overtaking
At this switches the overtaking is started. Two back-to-back driving cars (distance up to one car-length) are separated. The first one is driving straight trough, the second one change to one of the outer lanes to start the overtaking. (d).
Switch-type 2: Back to the racing-line
After overtaking the cars are directed back to the racing-line at these switches, if this is free. Back-to-back driving cars are separated here, too. The first changes back to racing-line, the othe car has to go on at the outer lane. (c).
Examples:
a) A car drives straight to a switch on an outer-lane. It is directed to the racing-lane.
b) A car drives straight through a switch on the racing line. It goes on there.
c) Two cars are driving back-to-back straight on a switch on an outer lane. The first one is able to drive back to racing-line, the other one has to go on at the outer lane.
d) Two cars are driving back-to-back straight through a switch on the racing line. The first one is able to go on the racing line, the other one is directed to the outer-lane.
It is essential: the first car is directed to the racing line, the second one has to change to an outer-lane for overtaking.
5. Mode 4: “Automatically overtaking with anti-collision”
The middle of three lanes is defined as racing-line. On this lane the cars are driving prevailing. Just for overtaking they are changing their lane automatically. In the drawing three cars are driving back-to-back straight trough the switch. The first one, the red one is able to go straight on. Because being the first one it is able to go on at the racing-line. The second car, the green one has to change to one of the outer lanes. Now it is able to overtaking the red one. The blue one goes straight on at the racing line too. It is able to overtake the green car. Independent if the twitch goes to the racing line or away from it, it is essential: the first car is directed to the racing line. The following cars have to change the lane. Overtaking the front-driver is possible at each switch in this setting. Even if it is driven with lots of cars it is advisable. The anti-collision system is activated in this mode. If two cars are driving on the module parallel, neither will change the lane.
Mode 4b: Just on racing-line
All cars are directed to the racing-line (middle lane). But no overtaking is started. All cars are directed on the middle lane as long as it is free. If there is a car at the middle lane, the anti-collision system avoids the lane-changing. Back-to-back driving cars (like in the drawing) are directed to the middle lane too. Overtaking in this situation is impossible. Sole exception: If a single car is driving at the middle lane and would crash, the anti-collision system avoids the switching. So the following car stays on the outer lane and is able to overtake. Mode 4b is advisable for the switch which is shown in the drawing, if there is a right hand bend following the switching-module. So the left outer lane would be longer than the middle lane. This complicates overtaking. It is just possible to activate Mode 4a at switch-type 1 (outer and inner ones).
6. Mode 5: “Manual and automatic overtaking combined with anti-collision”
Without encroaching of the drivers automatic-mode 4a is activated. With pushing their buttons they are able to stop the automatic switching and starting manual lane-changing. Otherwise explained: As long as the drivers don’t push the lane-changing-button the switch works even like the automatic switching. In the drawing a single car is going straight to the switch. It is still on the middle lane and there is no car which could start overtaking. There is no reason for switching. So the car drives trough the switch, unless the driver pushes the lane-changing-button in front of the deadstrip. If he pushes the button the car will change the lane like in the manual mode. So it is possible to start overtaking even if the man in front is farer away. Like in all other automatic operating modes the anti-collision is activated. So it is not possible to change lane by pushing the button if this results a crash.
7. Mode 6: Automatic overtaking with manual depression
The automatic overtaking (mode 4) is operating. Additionally a lane-changing can be depressed by pushing the button. The switch works like in the automatic-operation-mode. In the drawing a car is driving through the switch in the outer lane. If the driver doesn’t react the car will be directed to the middle lane. But if the driver pushes the button in front of the deadstrip the automatic-lane-changing will be depressed. So he is able to go straight on. This mode can be used, if the switching module at a point of the track where overtaking takes no sense. The driver is able to decide on his own if he wants to change the lane or not. Another example is the use of two switches back-to-back like on the 301d-module. If several cars are driving on the middle lane, the automatic of the first switch will start separating the cars. If you want to start overtaking not at the first but rather at the second switch because of track-design you can depress the lane changing at the first switch. So the cars are directed to the outer lane at the second switch.
8. Digital modules and their compatibility
The Switch-Modules
The switch-modules are split up lengthwise. That accrued two advantages: At first the driving direction can be changed quickly. You just have to dismount the module, turn it 180 degree and remount it in the track. The second is, that the whole module can be better constructed out of the two half modules on your personally way. There are two switch-modules available. They can be connected to each other or to every other analog half. The halves detailed:
301dz: four switches, arbitrary operation modes, power-connectors built-in on both sides, time-measurement-sensors built in every of the three lanes, time-measurement-connectors built in on both sides, size of 170 x 42,5 cm, because of the time-measurement this module is the perfect start for digital tracks.
301d: like 301dz just without time-measurement. This module is assembled as second or further switching-situation.
301h: throughout straight, size: 170 x 42,5 cm
304h: fast chicane, size: 170 x 42,5 cm
Recommendation: Our experience showed us, that one digital-module is enough for a five to six modules track. For bigger tracks a second digital-module should be build in.
Compatible to other 300 modules:
Digital-modules are compatible to other 300 modules generally. Indeed, a few modules are not commendation able: 303, 307/308, and 313/314 shouldn’t be used, because of the restriction of the lanes. This could result in a crash with the opposing traffic.
Existing connection-modules:
Existing connection-modules are able to be used as normal racing module. The track is power-supplied by the digital module. An additional power-supply would be possible to. If you want to drive analog without car-chip the digital-module has to be dismantled, because it links all three lanes together.
Pictures of the 300 digital system
On the right hand the switching module 301dz with time measurement. On the left hand side a 301h.
On the right side the back of a digital-modul. The underside is covered with a transparent cover.
On the left you see the three connectors to the time measurement, on the right side the power connectors. At the other side are the same connectors, so you are able connect the module in both direction of motion.
9. Insertion of Ghostcars
There can be heavy traffic on a Slotfire-track without just one driver. With the Ghostcarmaker, an adjustable resistor, eight cars are able to drive on the track without handling of a driver. With the adjustable resistor the speed can be adapted to the tightest curve. If the Ghostcars are prepared with magnets and the personally driven cars not they are acceptable antagonists. In the automatic-overtaking-mode the use of Ghostcars is most interesting.
10. Buttons and connectors of Base1
11. Specifications of Base1
The control-unit (Base1) manages together with the car-chip the cars: irrespective on which lane the car is driving it is braked down or rushed up according to the controller-status. Furthermore manual lane-changing can be initiated.
Specifications:
up to eight cars are able to drive autonomous on one lane
by pushing one button you allot a car to a driver
for use with 1/24 and 1/32 scaled cars
up to 3 Amperes for each car
arbitrary operation-voltage between 10 and 20 Volts
integrated short-circuit-protection
manual and automatic switch-control together with Slottronic Switch1
integrated time-measurement with USB-connection and Slottronic-Race software
connector for starting-lights
intern and additional extern chaos-button for fast disconnection of track-power after accidents
12. The Controller
With the Slottronic-System all analog controller are able to be used (e.g. Parma, MRRC, MB Slot, Fly Racing etc). For analog races and automatically overtaking is no additional modifying necessary. Even if the manual modes should be used a switch has to be provided for every driver. We suggest building in the button in the controller but it is also possible to construct it as a foot switch. Preparing the controller for manual lane-switching is quite simple. At the small front side an additional hole is be drilled. There the switching-button is built in. A cable is brazed to the positive pole of the resistor. A second cable is taken out of the controller to a fourth banana plug which connects to the connection box / the driver-console. Optionally we can tell you the needed parts, deliver them or we deliver prepared controllers.
13. The restrictor-box
The Slottronic-System is the unique digital-system worldwide which run with voltage between 10 an 20 Volts. But that’s not all: 10 Volts are able to be too much for 1:32 drivers. Even if kids or green drivers are racing voltage between 6 and 8 Volts can be enough. Especially the event-organizer under our customers will be glad: With our new restrictor-boxes the cars can be dimmed so that they aren’t able to crash at a curve. And this for every individual driver. So you also are able to adjust the cars at the same speed. And the final plus for comfort and technique: Without controllers the restrictor-box controlled the speed of the ghostcars.
The picture show the Base1 at his rack, which is direct connected to the racing track.
Print version
